Coles (surname)

Coles is a patronymic surname of English origins deriving from either a pet form of the name Nicholas or from the Old English word meaning '"coal black".

Notable people with the surname include:


 * Arthur William Coles (1892–1982), Australian businessman
 * Vernell Eufaye "Bimbo" Coles (b. 1968), American basketball player
 * Bryony Jean Coles (b. 1946), British prehistoric archaeologist
 * Cameron Coles (b. 1974), Australian-born Scottish cricketer
 * Cecil Frederick Coles (1888–1918), British composer
 * Charles "Honi" Coles (1911–1992), American tap dancer
 * Charlie Coles (1942–2013), American basketball player and coach
 * Cowper Phipps Coles (1819–1870), British naval captain and designer
 * Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1959), British writer, 50% of Manning Coles
 * Daniel Richard Coles (b. 1981), English footballer
 * Darnell Coles (b. 1962), American baseball player and coach
 * Dennis Coles (b. 1970), Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan
 * Edward Coles (1786–1868), American politician
 * Elisha Coles (1640–1680), English lexicographer
 * Elizabeth Coles (1912–1975), British novelist Elizabeth Taylor
 * Fenton George Coles (b. 1937), Welsh rugby player
 * George Coles (cricketer, born 1798) (1798–1865), English amateur cricketer
 * George Coles (politician) (1810–1875), Canadian politician; first Premier of Prince Edward Island
 * George Edward Coles (1851–1903), English cricketer
 * George Coles (architect) (1884–1963), English architect
 * George James "G.J." Coles (1885–1977), founder of what was to become the Coles Group shopping empire, Australia
 * H. Brent Coles (b. 1951), mayor of Boyse, Idaho
 * Isaac Coles (1747–1813), American politician
 * Kimberly Coles (b. 1962), American actress
 * Joanne Coles (b. 1992), English motorcycle trials rider
 * John Coles (1833–1919), English businessman
 * John Coles (archaeologist) (1930-2020), archaeologist
 * John David Coles, American TV and film director
 * Leslie Stephen Coles (1941–2014), American biogerontologist and a key member of the Supercentenarian Research Foundation
 * Laveranues Leon Coles (b. 1977), American football player
 * Lisa Coles (b. 1964), American broadcaster Lisa Guerrero
 * Manning Coles, pseudonymous of British spy writer's Adelaide Manning (1891-1955) and Cyril Coles (1899-1965)
 * Mark Coles, New Zealand cricket coach
 * Miriam Coles Harris (1834–1925), author whose anonymous first novel attracted several impostors
 * Nathaniel Adams Coles (1919–1965), American jazz musician Nat King Cole
 * Neil Chapman Coles (b. 1934), British golfer
 * Peter Coles (b. 1963), Professor of Astrophysics at Cardiff University
 * Ray Coles, mayor and committee member Lakewood, New Jersey
 * Richard Coles (b. 1962), British musician and clergyman
 * Robert Coles (b. 1929), American psychiatrist, educator, author
 * Robert Coles (c. 1600–1655), early settler in New England
 * Walter Coles (1790–1857), U.S. Representative from Virginia
 * William Coles Finch (1864–1944),English author and historian
 * Wayne Coles-Janess, Australian writer, film director and producer